Caregiver-infant interactions :Stages of attachment by Schaffer and the role of the father Flashcards

1
Q

What are the Stages of attachment identified by Schaffer

A

Stage 1: Asocial
Stage 2: Indiscriminate attachment
Stage 3:specific attachment
Stage 4 multiple attachments

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2
Q

What are the features of stage 1 of Schaffer’s attachment (4)

A
  • Between0-6 weeks.
  • Babies display innate behaviour–> such as crying and smiling that ensure proximity to any potential caregiver.
    *They will also display these behaviours to non human objects. *Anyone can comfort them as they do not prefer any individual caregiver
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3
Q

What are the features of stage 2 of Schaffer’s attachment (4)

A
  • Indiscriminate attachment Between 6-weeks to 7 months
  • Infants develop the ability to tell the difference between humans and objects and between familiar and unfamiliar individuals
  • smile more at the people they see frequently.
    *However they do not yet show stranger anxiety or separation anxiety
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4
Q

What are the features of stage 3 of Schaffer’s attachment (3)

A
  • Specific attachment Between 7-9, months
  • Babies form a strong attachment to the primary caregiver.
  • It is in this stage that separation anxiety and stranger anxiety develop
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5
Q

Something about Schaffer’s findings on separation anxiety-fathers (3)

A

*Schaffer found that infants’ primary attachment figure was most frequently their mother alone (65%); 30% both parents and only 3% the father alone.
*However at 18 months 75% of infants had informed an attachment with their father
*Showing separation anxiety suggesting fathers play an important role in their infants lives

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6
Q

The role of the father: Importance of active play (3)

A

*Fathers are seen to engage babies in active play activities more consistently than mothers.
*Fathers interactions emphasise stimulation
* And so is thought their role is to encourage risk taking behaviours, compared to the more comfort style of mothers

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7
Q

The role of the father: As a primary caregiver (3)

A

*In modern Western society mothers are more likely to take part in the workplace
*There is evidence to suggest that if men take on the role of primary caregivers their international style changes to be more like mothers
*Increasing their capacity for sensitive responsiveness

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8
Q

Schaffer and Emerson (1964) - How they identified the stages of attachment (8)

A

*Schaffer and Emerson (1964) identified the four stages of attachment from the results of a longitudinal observation of 60 babies and their families.
*In the first year, data was collected through monthly observations and interviews with an additional follow up visit at 18 months.
*Two types of behaviour were assessed: stranger anxiety, signs of discomfort when left with the researcher and separation anxiety discomfort when the primary caregiver is moved to another room. *It was found that separation anxiety occurs in most babies by 25-32 weeks with stranger distress occurring in most babies approximately one month later .
*In the 18 month follow up, 87% had developed multiple attachments.
*These results suggest that development occurs in the stages outlined by Schaffer, perhaps being a biologically influenced process.
*As multiple attachments develop quickly they are important not just the primary attachments to the mother as argued by researchers such Bowlby;
*Also, the quality of caregiver infant interactions directly impacts the strength of attachment for infants and their mothers

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9
Q

High Mundane realism (4) links to Schaffer and Emerson (1964)

A

*As infants and their families were observed in their open homes,
*The study has a high level of mundane realism; the experience for infants were normal.
*Strangers visiting the family home and the caregiver temporarily leaving the room are normal occurrences.
*This suggests behaviour recording was valid

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10
Q

Con about the sample in Schaffer and Emerson (1964) and temporal validity (3)

A

*The sample in Schaffer’s study may not be generalisable as it only includes a group of working class mothers in 1960s Glasgow;
*This culture is not representative of much of the UK or the rest of the world.
*The study may also lack temporal validity, as child rearing practices have likely changes significantly in the past 60 years

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11
Q

Field (1978)-Role of the father (4)

A

*Field (1978) Observed primary caretaker mothers, primary caretaker fathers and secondary caretaker fathers interacting with their 4 month old infants
*Finding fathers in general focused more on game playing and less on holding.
*Additionally, the primary caretaker fathers showed more sensitive responsive behaviour, similar to mothers
*For example, they used more smiling and child directed speech than secondary caretaker fathers

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12
Q

Verissimo (2011)-Role of the father in socialisation

A

*Verissimo (2011) Observed preschool children’s relationship with their mothers and fathers
*Then later conducted a follow up assessment of social interactions when the children started nursery.
*A strong attachment to the father was the best predictor of the ability to make friends in school, suggesting an important role for fathers in socialisation

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13
Q

Pro and Con of the role of the father (4)

A

*There are economic implications to research assessing the importance of the fathers role
*;this could lead to legislation that ensures equal paternity and maternity leave.
*Whilst this may reduce the number of males in the workforce, reduce economic activity, and place pressure on businesses, equalising maternity and paternity leave
*It should help to address the gender pay gap which is in part due to the need to extend absences by mothers caring for their infants

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